McCord Coney Island & Diner is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner

“I really enjoy what I do,” stated Ahmad Mahmoud, owner of the McCord Coney Island & Diner, located at 1801 N. McCord Rd. on the corner of Dorr Street. “I truly love people. My customers are like my family and close friends. We all have a great time and people seem to enjoy themselves along with their food.”

Those satisfied customers gather for breakfast, lunch and dinner as the eatery is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

While the Coney-style hot dog seems to have top billing, customers can choose from a large selection of classic sandwiches including burgers, chicken, fish, veal, turkey breast, tuna or chicken salad sandwiches, Reubens, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, gyros, wraps, homemade soups, wings, fresh salads, appetizers and much more. Mediterranean cuisine leads the dinner menu but liver and onions, chopped sirloin or jumbo shrimp are also options. For those hungry for breakfast, eggs any style compete with a 27-item omelet menu not to mention the build-your-own option. Breakfast meats, pancakes, waffles and French toast can also be ordered. A special selection for seniors age 60 and over and kids, age 10 and younger, is available.

Not only is the menu extensive, but the walls of the diner are filled with sports jerseys from university teams and caps from veterans depicting many branches of the armed service.

“My customers have contributed all of those items,” Mahmoud reflected. “And these things make the restaurant very personal to many and add so much.”

Mahmoud takes great pride in serving the many veterans and first responders who have become regulars along with a number of veterans’ organizations that count on him for support. Proceeds from the diner’s annual Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 21 benefited veterans’ organizations while adding to the delight of many small children.

“My family and I, along with my staff, think very highly of veterans and first responders who sacrifice their lives for our freedom. We want to pay back with the very best service we can offer,” he said.

Mahmoud also helps those in need. For the past two Thanksgivings, he has donated meals to the Toledo Buffalo Soldiers Motor Cycle Club, which delivers food to needy families. He is also involved with other community endeavors and has been a big supporter of the Stranahan Elementary School annual pumpkin run.

Only open since March 28, Mahmoud has already expanded once, adding a party room for 65 people adjacent to the 90-seat diner. It also accommodates many of the Saturday-Sunday breakfast crowd overflow along with an array of events such as showers, meetings and parties. Encouraged by the success of the second room, Mahmoud is leasing a third adjacent unit to expand the seating capacity of the party room and provide some much-needed storage space.

Prior to opening McCord Coney Island, Mahmoud was the owner of the House of Omelets near The University of Toledo. When he learned of the availability of this McCord Road-Dorr Street space, he was happy to relocate.

“I like this location so much better and the space is well suited for what we are doing. It is convenient with lots of close parking. I have always wanted to have a diner like this,” he related.